I was delighted to learn this week that the January 2014 issue of Mixmag will feature a cover mix from everyones favorite super group, Hot Natured. They have some tough acts to follow because 2013 saw Disclosure, Sasha, Maya Jane Coles, Maceo Plex, and a few other notables step up to the honorary decks for the venerable monthly publication. If anyone is up to the task, it is certainly Hot Natured. 2013 has seen the now four member supergroup featuring Jamie Jones, Lee Foss, Ali Love, and Luca C continue their rapid ascent to the top of dance music stardom that has featured the release of their debut LP “Different Sides of The Sun” and an incredibly popular live show that has swept its way around the world as the deep house revival continues at full force. To folks who have watched Hot Natured when it was only Lee and Jamie, their success should come as no surprise. At the controls you had the two frontmen of the tremendously successful Hot Creations imprint, which has played a leading role in modernizing the deep house sound with consistently fresh releases. When they brought Ali and Luca into the mix (Infinity Ink) [Crosstown Rebel, Hot Creations] they became a creative force that could garner tremendous crossover appeal with many thanks due to the vocal talents of Ali and oftentimes Anabel Englund as well. Armed with two more official* members, Hot Natured charged hard into 2013 forging an identity that was slightly more pop-minded with minimal loss of integrity. Mixmag’s January 2014 cover mix features Luca’s talents behind the decks and it demands your attention soon, if not right now. Enjoy
Hot Natured’s Luca C talks you through your stunning exclusive mix as you read on
1. Tiga
‘Good As Gold’ (Morgan Geist remix)
“This mix opens and closes with two Morgan Geist-produced and mixed tracks. What a year has this been for one of my favourite producers! Morgan and his label Environ have been a huge influence on our group over the years. His number one with Storm Queen was so well deserved”
2. Kelley Polar Quartet
‘Here In The Night’
“From the same man who provided the strings on ‘Miura’ and “Caught Up’ on Metro Area’s first album. Psychedelic Italo boogie at its best!”
3. Daniel Maloso
‘Caracol’
“Cómeme was one my favourite labels this year and this is a great afterparty track”
4. DOC:HOOK (Doc Daneeka + Nick Hook)
‘Jacking Dogs’
“Filtered synth stabs and a big bassline on this jacking party house bomb”
5. Hot Natured feat The Egyptian Lover
‘Isis (Magic Carpet Ride)’ (Lee Curtiss Remix)
“I love the string stabs on Lee Curtiss’ remix of our single ‘Isis’. Dubbed-out disco vibes”
6. Marcus Worgull feat Osunlade
‘Reno’
“I always play a lot of Innervisions tracks… this was the biggest one for me this year”
7. Vaal
‘Mask’ (John Tejada remix)
“Another big track for me this year. The super-talented Vaal, remixed by none other than John Tejada”
8. Madato
‘Model 27’
“Trippy synths, heavy beats and almost rockabilly/surf undertones on this brilliant Items & Things release”
9. Luca Cazal
‘Mariri’ (demo)
“A demo version of one of the tracks on the first EP on my new label ‘House Of Infinity’, which is launching early next year”
10. Jamie Jones
‘Cookie Monster’
“One of Jamie’s biggest tracks this summer, a Paradise classic!”
11. Oliver Schories
‘Go’
“I don’t know too much about Oliver – but I do know he’s from Hamburg! Jamie gave me the track – and I love it. On the Der Turnbeutel label”
12. Metro Area
‘Erodyne’
“We end the mix where we start, with another Morgan Geist production. This cosmic record was on the B-side of their last original release, ‘Metro Area 7’. An amazing production. Hope they bring out more stuff soon!”
(Track list source: “COVER MIX: HOT NATURED.” Mixmag. N.p., 17 Dec. 2013.)